In a statement, Vega framed his bid as a necessary response to what he described as damaging trust in FIFA’s leadership. “I am standing to reunite the global football family, deliver genuine and lasting reform, modernise FIFA for the 21st Century, restore stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust that our game urgently needs,” Vega said. He further accused the current leadership of “demoralising the game,” stating, “Weak governance has damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family.”
Vega’s candidacy comes against the backdrop of significant turmoil within FIFA following the collapse of Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the commercial and ticketing rights to World Cup competitions to private investors. The plan failed within days of being revealed in July, sparking widespread backlash and intensifying long-standing mistrust between UEFA and the world governing body. Vega told AFP that “The situation has evolved a lot since then,” adding that FIFA’s member associations were “much more open to change” than when he previously considered running.
European football leaders are actively working to shape a strategy to oust Infantino. UEFA recently convened its 55 member federations in Berlin to discuss this strategy, driven by the belief that Infantino’s increasingly executive presidency has overstepped its bounds. UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis stated, “Somewhere along the way things went too far with FIFA, and we’re looking to put things back where they belong.” UEFA’s longer-term plans include preparing a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland for possible financial mismanagement related to the failed sell-off deal, as well as seeking court authorization in the United States for discovery of evidence.
Despite the political momentum in Europe, the path to the March 18, 2027 election in Rabat, Morocco, remains challenging for challengers. Infantino is widely believed to have secure support, with research suggesting he already has approximately 90 votes pledged from the 211 member federations. While Europe’s 55 federations account for more than a quarter of the voting bloc, UEFA is not a united front; Infantino has secured promised support from Azerbaijan and Latvia. The president has defied calls to resign, maintaining his position after the investment plan’s failure.
“Weak governance has damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family.”
Election rules stipulate that candidates must declare their intention to stand by November 18. To be eligible, a candidate must gain the backing of at least five of FIFA’s 211 member federations, with one of those federations formally proposing the candidate. Vega must also pass an eligibility review, which includes proving involvement in football for two of the previous five years. Despite these hurdles, his announcement marks a pivotal shift from political maneuvering to a formal electoral challenge.
Meanwhile, other stakeholders continue to push for internal reform. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has proposed that FIFA’s council set up a working group to drive governance changes, arguing the process should be “driven by the football institutions themselves, rather than being outsourced to an external party.” This approach contrasts with UEFA’s more aggressive legal and political tactics, highlighting the fragmented nature of the opposition to Infantino’s leadership as the election date approaches.
